Redwood Heights Neighborhood News

by Denise Davila and guest columnist Chris Burgardt, RH Neighborhood Association

College Softball in the Neighborhood

Women's Softball comes to Holy Names University this fall. HNU welcomes Melanie Gregor, MA, as the coach of the new softball athletic program. The HNU women's softball team will compete in the California Pacific Conference. Enjoy competitive college sports right in the neighborhood. Game schedule at www.hnu.edu.

McCrea Park

McCrea Park is tucked into a sometimes forgotten corner of Redwood Heights. It was originally part of Leona Park until the freeway separated the two parks. Today McCrea is home to fly-casting ponds where one can practice fly fishing. There is also a lovely section of Lion Creek and a lot of ivy. If you haven't been to the park recently, make a point to visit.

The Oakland Casting Club has called the park home since 1958. They offer free lessons to anyone who would like to learn the art of fly casting. The club has generated national champions, some of whom still live in Redwood Heights.

Since the park's inception more than 50 years ago, trout fishing has been offered in the park. Decades ago it was a year-round program, which offered the option to fish in the creek itself. Over the years the fishing opportunities have been scaled back. These days the Oakland Police Activities League stocks two ponds in the back of the park with trout for just a couple of weeks. They use the time to teach city children how to fish.

In recent years there have been issues with homeless people living in the park and various types of criminal activity. Last year, when a neighborhood watch group was formed near the park, increasing the use of the park by local residents was identified as the top priority. So far, Oakland Public Works has responded in a timely fashion to requests for some improvements, and a large clean-up effort was mounted on Earth Day in April. Residents are continuing the clean-up efforts.

What remains to be determined is the long-term plan for the park. A movement has started to allow leashed dogs into the park to increase resident use of the park. Improving access to the creek and providing learning opportunities also seem of interest. Anyone interested in joining the group working on the park is invited to contact Chris Burgardt at chris\@burgardt.net.

Denise Davila can be reached at d2davila\@yahoo.com.